Published: Monday, November 19, 2012 at 11:11 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, November 19, 2012 at 11:11 a.m.

Raceland resident Mel Baudoin has had a rewarding and varied music career.

But the singer and trombone player for the Bayou Dixieland Band just calls it fun.

He grew up on a small sugar cane farm on the banks of Bayou Lafourche where he helped his family with chores and made sure the animals were fed. It wasn't until he heard his mom sing that Baudoin fell in love with music.

"I remember I would help her shell peas and listen to her sing. Pretty soon I was able to sing songs I heard on the radio. Mom was so proud of me, and whenever we had company, she would ask me to sing for them," he said.

Baudoin began his formal music training in middle school, taking up the trombone. Once he reached high school, Baudoin was teaching himself how to play the guitar and joining his first band.

"My grandfather bought me my first guitar. About 10, maybe 14, I was already playing in a small three-piece band in the neighborhood. It was a father, his son and me, The Falgiut Family Band. I played guitar and sang," he said.

He reminisced about how his father would drive him to the dancehall and watch him play.

"I really appreciated the efforts dad exposed me to," Baudoin said.

Baudoin continued his music training at Nicholls State University for two years. Then he went to Louisiana State University where he graduated with a bachelor of music education degree in vocal music.

"I never used music as a profession. It was more of a fun thing and a hobby," Baudoin said.

After college, Baudoin performed in bands. He played with The Dufrene Brothers Band at the College Inn in Thibodaux every Saturday night, a country and western band in Thibodaux and a group of musicians in Houma.

Baudoin is partially retired from Mel's Framing, a picture-framing company he owns. But he isn't retired from the Bayou Dixieland Band in Thibodaux.

"I've been playing with them for almost 20 years. There was an opening in the band for a trumpet player. ... The trombone player also played base, so they invited me in to play trombone, and he just played the base," Baudoin said.

When the band found out Baudoin could sing, they almost immediately designated him the singer of the group. One of the most requested songs the band plays is Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World."

"I've also translated the song to French on the CD," he said.

Baudoin's most recent work reflects his French and American heritage. As a child growing up, Baudoin had to learn French to communicate with his French-speaking grandparents.

He has composed an original collection of Louisiana folksongs, with some written in English and some in French. It's called "Cartouche de Lafourche."

"I collaborated with a friend showing art and came up with songs to write to go with the art. ‘Evangeline' was the first song written in English and French. After ‘Evangeline' people started telling and giving me ideas. I thought of different things, and the list of songs eventually got up to 12."

All the songs on the CD relate to the region in some way. They were either stories told to Baudoin or of his own recollection and reflect life growing up on Bayou Lafourche.

During the project, Baudoin was diagnosed with Leukemia and finished the recording session the week before he started chemotherapy.

"I wanted to do this before my treatment. I didn't know what type of health I was going to be in. I got it done, and I am still able to sing and perform," he said.

Baudoin receives his last treatment of chemo in the next couple of months. He hopes he can beat his illness and continue to enjoy life with his family, friends and music.

"I decided to leave a legacy of music and history with the making of this CD," he said.

Baudoin received many awards throughout his music career.

After serving 13 terms as president of The Thibodaux Playhouse, a community theater founded in 1960, he was awarded the Board Member Emeritus Award in 2004 when he retired.

"He won the award because of his long-time service to the playhouse as a board member and officer," said Martha Hodnett of Thibodaux, a playhouse member.

Hodnett worked with Baudoin at the playhouse since the ‘60s. "Mel is not just a musician. He is far from it. He is an all-around artist and a wonderful storyteller. He is also a painter. He and his wife Marty have collaborated on art work. He has done much of the work that we have had on stage at the playhouse," Hodnett said.

Baudoin is still a performing member of the playhouse and helped the theater celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010.

He was also the 2008 recipient of Music's Unsung Hero Award from the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce and more recently the Coupe d'Honeur Award for his French skills from the University of Ste. Anne in Nova Scotia.

Staff Writer Sable LeFrere can be reached at 985-857-2204 or at sable.lefrere@houmaday.com.

<p>Raceland resident Mel Baudoin has had a rewarding and varied music career. </p><p>But the singer and trombone player for the Bayou Dixieland Band just calls it fun.</p><p>He grew up on a small sugar cane farm on the banks of Bayou Lafourche where he helped his family with chores and made sure the animals were fed. It wasn't until he heard his mom sing that Baudoin fell in love with music.</p><p>"I remember I would help her shell peas and listen to her sing. Pretty soon I was able to sing songs I heard on the radio. Mom was so proud of me, and whenever we had company, she would ask me to sing for them," he said.</p><p>Baudoin began his formal music training in middle school, taking up the trombone. Once he reached high school, Baudoin was teaching himself how to play the guitar and joining his first band.</p><p>"My grandfather bought me my first guitar. About 10, maybe 14, I was already playing in a small three-piece band in the neighborhood. It was a father, his son and me, The Falgiut Family Band. I played guitar and sang," he said.</p><p>He reminisced about how his father would drive him to the dancehall and watch him play. </p><p>"I really appreciated the efforts dad exposed me to," Baudoin said.</p><p>Baudoin continued his music training at Nicholls State University for two years. Then he went to Louisiana State University where he graduated with a bachelor of music education degree in vocal music.</p><p>"I never used music as a profession. It was more of a fun thing and a hobby," Baudoin said.</p><p>After college, Baudoin performed in bands. He played with The Dufrene Brothers Band at the College Inn in Thibodaux every Saturday night, a country and western band in Thibodaux and a group of musicians in Houma.</p><p>Baudoin is partially retired from Mel's Framing, a picture-framing company he owns. But he isn't retired from the Bayou Dixieland Band in Thibodaux.</p><p>"I've been playing with them for almost 20 years. There was an opening in the band for a trumpet player. ... The trombone player also played base, so they invited me in to play trombone, and he just played the base," Baudoin said.</p><p>When the band found out Baudoin could sing, they almost immediately designated him the singer of the group. One of the most requested songs the band plays is Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World." </p><p>"I've also translated the song to French on the CD," he said.</p><p>Baudoin's most recent work reflects his French and American heritage. As a child growing up, Baudoin had to learn French to communicate with his French-speaking grandparents. </p><p>He has composed an original collection of Louisiana folksongs, with some written in English and some in French. It's called "Cartouche de Lafourche."</p><p>"I collaborated with a friend showing art and came up with songs to write to go with the art. 'Evangeline' was the first song written in English and French. After 'Evangeline' people started telling and giving me ideas. I thought of different things, and the list of songs eventually got up to 12."</p><p>All the songs on the CD relate to the region in some way. They were either stories told to Baudoin or of his own recollection and reflect life growing up on Bayou Lafourche.</p><p>During the project, Baudoin was diagnosed with Leukemia and finished the recording session the week before he started chemotherapy.</p><p>"I wanted to do this before my treatment. I didn't know what type of health I was going to be in. I got it done, and I am still able to sing and perform," he said.</p><p>Baudoin receives his last treatment of chemo in the next couple of months. He hopes he can beat his illness and continue to enjoy life with his family, friends and music.</p><p>"I decided to leave a legacy of music and history with the making of this CD," he said. </p><p>Baudoin received many awards throughout his music career.</p><p>After serving 13 terms as president of The Thibodaux Playhouse, a community theater founded in 1960, he was awarded the Board Member Emeritus Award in 2004 when he retired.</p><p>"He won the award because of his long-time service to the playhouse as a board member and officer," said Martha Hodnett of Thibodaux, a playhouse member.</p><p>Hodnett worked with Baudoin at the playhouse since the '60s. "Mel is not just a musician. He is far from it. He is an all-around artist and a wonderful storyteller. He is also a painter. He and his wife Marty have collaborated on art work. He has done much of the work that we have had on stage at the playhouse," Hodnett said.</p><p>Baudoin is still a performing member of the playhouse and helped the theater celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010.</p><p>He was also the 2008 recipient of Music's Unsung Hero Award from the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce and more recently the Coupe d'Honeur Award for his French skills from the University of Ste. Anne in Nova Scotia.</p><p>Staff Writer Sable LeFrere can be reached at 985-857-2204 or at sable.lefrere@houmaday.com.</p>